From the very first time that I started going out on more adventurous tours along Guatemala I learned that no matter the season or the region you should always carry some waterproof gear. You just never know what is going to happen out there.
I learned this lesson the hard way. I ended up being involved in some pretty disastrous situations before I finally decided to look for a waterproof soft shell to take with me everywhere. Also, I wrote a review about the Alpine Houdini waterproof jacket, you should read it!
I used to wear a huge, green jacket. The comfiest and warmest jacket I ever owned but it was only water-resistant and would get ridiculously heavy when wet. It also took days for it to get dry.
Searching for a good option I fund the Women’s Helium Traveler Jacket by Outdoor Research.
What it offers:
- Waterproof Fabric
- Breathable
- Fully Seam-Taped
- Laminated Construction
- Windproof
- Lightweight
- Fully Adjustable Hood
- YKK® AquaGuard® Zippers
- Internal Front Stormflap
- Zip Hand Pockets
- Left-hand Pocket Doubles as Stuff Sack
- Carabiner Loop
- Key Clip
- Tab and Snap Cuff Adjustment
I loved it from the moment I opened the packaging it came in. It looks so stylish and has a great cut that makes my waist look great. Over all I loved its look and how comfortable it is.
I also noticed how light it was and the quality of the fabric. However I got it during the dry season. I kept putting it on my backpack every time I went on a new adventure but I had no luck! It didn’t rain.
Finally I took it for a one day trip to do some Rappel in Concepcion Waterfall. I figured that even if we didn’t have rain I would still be able to try its water resistance under the waterfall. And that’s exactly what ended up happening.
We enjoyed a warm sunny day. So I stood under the waterfall for a few minutes. It was such a fun way to test this jacket! An I’m happy to report that it worked.
The only negative thing that I found about the Helium Traveler Jacket the length. As amazing it is, I found it a bit restricting when hiking up a hill.
Conclusion:
This will definitely be my go-to jacked whenever I’m walking around town. I don’t think I’ll ever want to use an umbrella again. However for outdoor adventures where you need more mobility, I would go for their Helium II. It has the same amazing fabric but it is shorter.
